To commemorate a legacy is a true honor. Klingons know much about such things. I, on the other hand, did not even get to witness the very first episode until it appeared on Netflix. That is not to say my experience boldly going where no one has gone before was any lessened. If anything, it was enhanced. By being able to watch all five series in succession, I was able to learn in a matter of weeks what the series tried to teach over the course of decades.
Obviously, there were many lessons, controversies, and moral questions Gene Roddenberry and his co-creators chose to address. Some more blatantly than others (I’m looking at you, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). However, to speak of them all may take another 50 years. But here are just a few things I have learned from watching and re-watching this historic and memorable series. And yes, I have watched all 10 movies, all 5 series (a total of 28 seasons, 703 episodes give or take), and all 3 of the new “Kelvin Timeline” movies.
Be warned, this reads more like an essay than a blog. Enjoy.
10: Interfering in the Lives of Others Never Works Out
One recurring lesson Star Trek tried to bring home in every series was the repercussions involved in telling the right thing at the wrong time. In the Trek universe, that entails altering the life of a species that does not have warp capability yet – one the Vulcans followed well before they made first contact with humanity. Sharing technology, acting on a society’s development, subverting a society’s laws, and so much more are prohibited by Starfleet General Order 1.
Before such a law existed in Starfleet, the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise had to figure it out on their own. Commander Charles Tucker made the wrong choice when he found out a lesser-treated third gender from a visiting species was treated as inferior. The repercussions proved deadly, as the “cogenitor” committed suicide rather than return to its old life. The beauty of Star Trek is it showed both the right way to do things, and the consequences of the wrong.
Today, it quite simply means letting things play out as they should, rather than feel like you carry the weight of everything on your shoulders. You are not responsible for the universe, so rather than create the story, try to enjoy being a part of it.
9: Self-Reliance is Valuable
In the Star Trek universe, whichever one you watch, inevitably you are drawn to one particular character. What many miss, however, is that no matter how we relate to them, they all share one common thread: they are capable beings. Competency, efficiency, professionalism, and responsibility are all traits shown in every member of every crew.
They may face different challenges, and it affects their lives in different ways, but without the ability to function as their own person, none of them would have even made it to the bridge. Sure, a chief engineer won’t have the same abilities as a tactical officer, but I’m almost getting ahead of myself (see #4).
8: Reality is Difficult to Comprehend
One thing Trek excelled at was the opening of our minds to other possibilities of reality. Almost every incarnation dealt with an alternate existence at some point. Kirk once beamed into a mirror universe, Worf encounters multiple realities with multiple Enterprises, and even Captain Sisko meets his long-deceased wife in an alternate universe. Oh, and let’s not forget the Kelvin movie series.
All these different experiences are enough to make anyone’s heads spin. Yet, their timeliness was always welcome, and gave a fresh spin on old characters. All the while it made us sit there and wonder if there was another reality with similar events happening unbeknownst to me. It only goes to show the importance of every decision we make, from the smallest to the largest.
7: Sentience Comes in Many Forms
Another heavily-debated topic came in the form of the rights of artificial intelligence. One of the most poignant episodes in Star Trek history was when Data was put on trial as Starfleet property or a living being. Another was when Voyager’s holographic Doctor had an equal chance to save two crew members, and he chose a friend over a regular crewman. His subroutines came unwound as he dealt with the ethics of his decision. But should he have even had that experience as a hologram? The uncertainty abounds.
Some species considered humans to be inferior beings. The Borg, the Q, and the Sheliak are just a few examples of beings who neglected the resilience of humanity, and oftentime, paid the price. It was both intriguing and humbling to watch as humanity came to terms with if technology deserved autonomy, while at the same time tried to establish themselves and their place in the universe. We often struggle with if technology controls us, and finding our identity in society, don’t we?
6: Confrontation is Not the First Answer
There are countless episodes that teach us about diplomacy, and some that accurately describe brinkmanship. The cusp of war and avoiding it is just as crucial as being prepared for it. From the time of Archer to the time of Sisko, war was a constant in some shape or form. The Xindi, the Romulans, the Klingons, the Borg, and the Dominion.
Each with their own distinctiveness, but every time a fight could be avoided, the characters in the show felt obligated to try. In the end, the Klingons and Romulans joined forces to fight a common foe – but only after Federation diplomacy failed. Captain Janeway even forged an alliance with the Borg for a time in an effort to combat Species 8472.
The interesting thing, though, was that every time battle became necessary, the crews were prepared. From the creation of the “escort vessel” Defiant, to removing the saucer section to save innocent lives, to creating new shielding to fight the Borg, if it ever came to a fight, no one felt unready. A great similar lesson to be learned by humanity in today’s age: diplomacy should always be our first choice, but be prepared to fight for what you stand for if it comes to it.
5: Sacrificing Your Values Risks Sacrificing Yourself
When faced with overwhelming adversity, a person’s character comes to a crucial point. A point of no return, if you will. Something that goes against their very ethics and morals for the sake of gaining the ultimate prize. There are several instances in this series, but perhaps none bigger than these two:
1) Captain Jonathan Archer and the NX-01 are at war with the Xindi. In the episode “Damage” his ship is beyond repair, and warp drive is out of the question. He tries to negotiate for a new coil, but it proves fruitless. With the Xindi on the move, he decides to board the alien vessel. In doing so, he steps over a line, “a line I thought I would never cross. And given the nature of our mission, it probably won’t be the last.” Archer states. He attempts to leave food and supplies for the alien ship’s trip home, but only as a way to make amends for his pirate-like actions. With humanity on the line, he saw it as the only way.
2) Captain Benjamin Sisko and the crew of Deep Space Nine are charged with guarding the wormhole that gives access to the Dominion. By the time of the episode “In the Pale Moonlight,” the war feels like a losing effort. The Federation and Klingon alliance continues to lose engagements to the Jem’Hadar and their Cardassian allies. The Romulans have remained neutral, but Sisko knows he needs them to turn the tide of the war in their favor. Using lies, subterfuge, and murder, the Romulans are tricked into thinking the Dominion killed one of their ambassadors; thus joining the alliance under false pretenses. And Sisko knows what he’s done, what he’s responsible for. But he also knows that to save his home, he must learn to live with it. “A guilty conscience is a small price to pay for the safety of the Alpha Quadrant.” he laments.
How can any of us say we wouldn’t have done the same if our loved ones were at risk? What measures would we go to in order to save what matters most to us? It’s also a testament to the fantastic writing on the show.
4: Surround Yourself with Good Counsel
One thing I always admired about any ship and any crew: how cohesive and organic the command crew was. From the professionalism of Picard, to the family feeling on Voyager, every ship ran like a well-oiled machine. And every captain knew when to ask for help. Captain Janeway was once faced with a task of avoiding the Borg and never returning to Earth, or facing them and risk assimilation. Her most trusted friend, and first officer, was there every step of the way. Whenever Captain Picard faced a new species, he never hesitated to ask for advice from Counselor Troi, or get tactical help from Lieutenant Worf.
The bridge is supposed to have a chain of command, but there’s never anything that says you should ignore the advice of those you’ve placed under you. Sometimes, even against their better judgment, the captains trusted those whom they worked with. A value we often lack. I know I personally prefer solo assignments to group projects, but if given a solid, cohesive team like we see in Star Trek, it makes the job so much easier.
3: Technology Does Not Change Innate Human Nature
While the technology on the show is artificial, the reactions of the characters and the way they behave is not. The beauty of Star Trek is to exaggerate real scenarios we as a society have faced, and put them in the stars. The writers only had experiences from the past and present to work on, and it dealt with very real problems: racism, greed, basic human rights, costs of war, rape, slavery, drug addiction, sexuality, politics, parenthood, conservation, abortion, cloning, immigration, and holocaust-like actions are all addressed in the Star Trek universe.
Do these sound familiar? They should. It’s a brilliant writing style because it’s relatable to the audience, and allows the viewers to see that even with faster-then-light speed, not a lot is likely to change deep down. We’ll still face problems, and we’ll still be uncertain where to draw the line.
2: Culture is not the Problem, How we Respond to it is
All of the dilemmas mentioned above, but not one of them holds a candle to culture differences. From the serene Vulcan to the passionate and honor-bound Klingon, the vast array of humanoid and non-humanoid life provides many stumbling blocks for the characters throughout the series. One flaw in the show is that the humans inherently base all their interactions off of human culture and experience, and it comes back to bite them in the rear more often than not. For people, eating is a social event. But as Captain Archer learned, eating is very intimate to the Kreetassan culture. Commander Riker also got a firsthand look at how different humans are from Klingons when he served aboard the Pagh.
So what are we to do? Just ignore the problems exist? Just agree to disagree? Or worse, go to war over it? Humanity still has leaps and bounds to make in this sense. Many make the case that we are not yet ready to travel the stars because we still have cultural differences to sort out down here. And I, personally, would be inclined to agree. Until we can learn to honor the lives of those different from ours, rather than wage Facebook wars, we are not yet ready for the Final Frontier.
1: LIFE is the Adventure
I always admired the adventures the crews went on. Archer and his team were the first explorers. Kirk and his crew were sent out intentionally to new regions for five years. Picard and his flagship served new species and old borders as the Federation continued to grow. Sisko ended up receiving command of a station, and a ship, that changed the universe as fans knew it. And Janeway’s journey home always explored new people, new cultures, and new ways to solve problems as they made their way back to earth.
The interesting thing, though, is that there was always a form of recreation. There was always a time to be social. There were always new things to learn, new people to meet, and new places to go. We as a pre-warp society still have so many places to go (Australia, Egypt, Britain and Iceland are all on my list), and still so much to explore. Only a fraction of our oceans have been charted, and new species of plants and animals are still being discovered in the deepest rainforests.
But what of the introvert? Well, there are endless books to read, countless movies to watch, and so many things to experience in our own backyard. Traveling is fun, and the thought of someday seeing the stars thrills me. That’s all thanks to Star Trek. But I also must thank them for helping me realize that every day is important and special. We, too, are on a “continuing mission” of our own. We are still exploring strange new worlds. We are still seeking out new life and new civilizations. We are still boldly going where no one has gone before.
Continue to Live Long and Prosper, Star Trek. And thank you.
